ZAMBOANGA CRISIS: ZCMC SCENES PART II @ SEPTEMBER 2013

DAY 7 of the  ZAMBOANGA CITY CRISIS 2013 (warning: another long blogpost!!!)

I was able to personally visit the WMSU gymnasium today.

The sad plight I could feel, but generally speaking, the place is very ideal as an evacuation site for the satellite hospital of the Zamboanga City Medical Center under Dr. Romeo Ong.

The place is protected from the forces of weather. Inside, it is air-conditioned, organized and clean... so definitely, a far cry from the evacuation centers. But, definitely, the place is far from the ideal hospital settings.  

Here is Dr. Giovanni Paolo Gimena, who is the HEMS Coordinator (with orange vest) at the Command Post.

Here are the other ZCMC staff and patients. 

Do not be surprised at the smiles. 

Filipinos really have a knack for being resilient to depressing situations and can smile no matter what!

The long wooden tables of the different services are lined on each side of the Gym while the beds are also grouped per ward! Admitting Unit

CSR

Emergency Room and HEMS

Laboratory

 

Orthopedic Ward

Nutrition and Dietetics Service. Patients and watchers line up for food. Notice their improvised "plates" and "bowls".

 Medical / Surgical Wards

 Pediatric Ward

 We see several sets of people who come over and give food and water to the patients. (additional to the food provided by the hospital)

Touching scenes...

Doctor shares the movie with one of the displaced children there

 love still reigns in times of adversity

indeed a non-ideal situation for acute patients

the mlnourished 11 month old infant with skin disease (from Rio Hondo) recovering from LBM and dehydration now shows bright eyes and a smile!  http://inpinaysfootsteps.blogspot.com/2013/09/zamboanga-crisis-2013-new-life-amidst_15.html

It was also at this time, that the Davao Regional Hospital from Tagum set up the mobile Operating Room under the SNEP (Surgical Networking Extension Program) and led by Assistant Secretary of Health (for Mindanao), Dr. Romulo Busuego. http://inpinaysfootsteps.blogspot.com/2013/09/zamboanga-crisis-2013-mobile-operating.html

The white tent near the stage is the mobile Operating Room

The mobile OR set-up

With Asst. Secretary Dr. Romulo Busuego of Davao Regional Hospital, USec Mila Fernandez and the new DOH-CHDIX Regional Director Dr. Nimfa Torrizo 

We left the Gymnasium at night.

It is amazing that a hospital can indeed be moved over to the gym!

We thank WMSU President, Dr. Milabel Ho for being gracious to do so. But, she is a nurse and would have the compassion for the displaced patients. 

The satellite hospital complements the Mindanao Central Sanitarium where other kinds of surgery are performed and I heard also an ICU set-up. http://inpinaysfootsteps.blogspot.com/2013/09/zamboanga-crisis-2013-mindanao-central.html

with DOH Secretary Enrique Ona with Dr. John Anacan (ZCMS), CHO Dr. Rodel Agbulos, Ciudad Medical Zamboanga President Dr. Joven Monsanto, CMZ Medical DirectorDr. Filipinas Rojo and ZPMC Medical Director Dr. Ernesto Florendo

With the support of the Secretary of Health, Dr. Enrique Ona, who came over to see the real situation and who is in close coordination with President NoyNoy Aquino, I am hopeful that the coordination of the DOH, CHO, ZCMC, MCS and the private hospitals would be complementary and united for the common good!

ZAMBOANGA CRISIS: MOBILE OPERATING ROOM AT ZCMC-WMSU GYM! @ SEPTEMBER 2013

On Day 7, I had the chance to visit the Zamboanga City Medical Center satellite site at the Western Mindanao State University gym and at that time they were setting up the Mobile Operating Room within the WMSU gym.

Operating Room at the end of the gym near the stage

The team is headed by Dr. Romulo Busuego, Asst, Secretary of the Department of Health (Secretary for Mindanao) and also Chief of Hospital III of the Davao Regional Hospital in Tagum, Davao Del Norte.

We met Dr. Russel Sasing, neurosurgeon (in blue) and Dr. Mauro Bravo, surgeon (in black) from DRH

DRH informed us that this Program has already been ongoing for 20 years and they call it SNEP or Surgical Networking Extension Program. Here are photos as they were setting up the Operating Room:

Meet Ma'am Elvie Oberon, Cluster Head for Special Areas of the Davao Regional Hospital, Tagum, Davao Del Norte who is taking care of the setting up of the mobile Operating Room. 

The DRH SNEP brought over their own OR beds, OR lights, Anesthesia machines, Oxygen Tanks and all the needed medicines and supplies for surgery and recovery.

Preparing the equipment for the OR...

The Operating Room is now ready for four tables:

three tables but can add one more...

the DRH Team ready to serve Zamboanga City

Dr. Romulo Busuego (in shorts) arrived...

The Recovery Room:

Then, Dr. Busuego arrived together with DOH USec Dr. Mila Fernandez and DOH-CHD IX Regional Director Dr. Nimfa Torrizo.

Welcome Dr. Nimfa Torrizo, the very new Regional Director for DOH-CHD IX. She was welcomed with a BLAST!!!

I heard that our new friend from DRH, the Neurosurgeon, Dr. Russel Sasing was indeed able to perform drainage of Brain Abscess at the Mindanao Central Sanitarium during this time. Thanks to all the doctors, nurses and the whole crew of the Davao Regional Hospital, Tagum, Davao Del Norte for sharing their time, talent and treasure to Zamboanga City.

The presence of this mobile Operating Room is reassuring to add facilities in case of any Patient Surge during the ongoing conflict this Zamboanga Crisis 2013.